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The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:36 am
by Ari Rahikkala
Andreas's plea to not refer to the Grand Commonwealth here gave me a very strange idea...

Let's make it clear that we are doing things the way we are because we've learned from history. Because we're different. And, because we're Shireroth. Let's call this the Small Commonwealth.

The Grand Commonwealth had a separate YAMOish board of its own. It drained activity from its member states, and was itself dependent on people remembering to go to a different board in order to gain activity. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, lean and flexible, one that's run from here in Shireroth, with optional local offices in the member states, so no-one will lose activity.

The Grand Commonwealth had unified foreign affairs. Its member states were forced to lie under someone else's banner. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one where the member states only gain from the ceremonial connection with the Kaiser of Shireroth, but will run their own diplomacy and foreign policy with no Shirithian interference.

The Grand Commonwealth had a full micronational government, with a head of state, head of government, parliament, ministries, military, economy, and legal system. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one where the members enter into small, explicit contracts with Shireroth (and through Shireroth, each other) in areas where they want to participate.

The Grand Commonwealth wildly exaggerated its strength and size. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one that's honest about what it is... and one that will get things done, and not die out due to temporary inactivity.

The Grand Commonwealth was a product of megalomania and the impulse to create huge pointless mergers. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one that has a purpose - to honour our common history, to encourage the growth of intermicronationalism and common culture, to maintain and expand community, and to explore new ideas that require a community larger than one nation in order to work.

The Grand Commonwealth infringed on the sovereignty of its member states. Let's make a Small Commonwealth... one that doesn't.

And finally, although I know what this sounds like...

The Grand Commonwealth was theoretically democratic, although rather Babkha-centric in practice. Let's make a Small Commonwealth, one springing from the tradition of the Shirithian Kaisership, where the Kaiser is the prime authority in commonwealth matters. Not a committee, not a parliament, but the Kaiser of Shireroth, now the head of both the Duchies united in the Republic of Shireroth, and the nations united in the Small Commonwealth (though with much more power in the former).

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 7:41 am
by Oroigawa Koreyasu
The funny thing is, for all of those you could replace "The Grand Commonwealth" with "The Confederacy of Gralus" and they're still true....

But I agree! :yay:

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 9:56 am
by b3n|<3r|\|
Oroigawa Koreyasu wrote:The funny thing is, for all of those you could replace "The Grand Commonwealth" with "The Confederacy of Gralus" and they're still true....
The Confederacy of Gralus was theoretically democratic, although rather Babkha-centric in practice.
lol@u

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:00 am
by Oroigawa Koreyasu
Ok, replace Babkha with Andreas and that one is true.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:06 am
by b3n|<3r|\|
lolwithu

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:32 am
by Kaiser Loki III
I LIKE IT! The FRC would even have joined if it were alive!

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:49 am
by Jonas
Kaiser Loki III wrote:I LIKE IT! The FRC would even have joined if it were alive!
It will join if Maraguo joins, you don't remember? :document

This is like chosing between little and much. And I think that the small commonwealth will have more opportunities to grow and become a success.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 11:58 am
by Kaiser Loki III
I Remember!

As a part of Maraguo.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 12:41 pm
by Erik Mortis
This lends itself to my desire for a layered organization.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Thu Oct 09, 2008 2:41 pm
by Andreas the Wise
Corey, I'm not sure quite all of those fit - we did have a common history, after all ....

But all sound good for me, except the Kaiser is the complete soverign. If we're going to encourage them to use vote based economies, it would make sense if we allowed them to vote with that money ....

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 6:13 am
by Nathan of Natopia
I am a bit confused here, are you all suggesting the Kaiser be the sovereign of the commonwealth organization... or the sovereign of the commonwealth members?

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:34 am
by Kaiser Loki III
Analagous to HRH Elizabeth II in the (British) Commonwealth.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 10:56 am
by Nathan of Natopia
That what I was afraid of. So the Kaiser would be our ceremonial head-of-state. Well, speaking for Natopia, I can say that doesn't sound very appealing ... no offense to your Nifitiness :p

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:37 am
by Ari Rahikkala
Actually, that'd only come with the Treaty of Kaiserial Niftification (or whatever)... and... that last bit isn't really all that important, it's just that I would kind of life to find *some* way to glorify the tradition of Shirithian kaisership.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:43 am
by Erik Mortis
Nations would only participate so much as they want, in the parts they want. You could be a commonwealth member in name only and nothing more if you wanted. Or you could sign some of the 2nd tier treaties participate at those levels.

2nd tier Treaties include
*Connected economies
*Non-Aggression pact
*Accepting the Kaiser as your monarch (in name only, no power shifts)
*Cultural stuff

3rd tier includes
*Shared currency
*Mutual defense.

It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 11:54 am
by Nathan of Natopia
Ok. cool. I like salad bars. :D

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 12:18 pm
by b3n|<3r|\|
Erik Mortis wrote:It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.
I prefer the term VIKING DINNER! :party

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:16 pm
by Kaiser Loki III
Help yourself, there is plenty.

I have no urge to be even a titular Head of State where such is not needed or wanted

(Gondor has no King.
Gondor needs no king!)

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 1:59 pm
by Erik Mortis
Okey. Viking Dinner.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 7:10 pm
by Ryan
Viking? What about us vegetarians? :P

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 5:20 am
by Harald of Froyalan
b3n|<3r|\| wrote:
Erik Mortis wrote:It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.
I prefer the term VIKING DINNER! :party
Me too!! :kaiser :party

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 1:01 pm
by Oroigawa Koreyasu
Harald of Froyalan wrote:
b3n|<3r|\| wrote:
Erik Mortis wrote:It's kinda like a salad bar... pick the treaties you like, don't use the ones you don't.
I prefer the term VIKING DINNER! :party
Me too!! :kaiser :party
Me three! :yay:

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 3:39 pm
by Kaiser Loki III
The Vegetarians just take the vegetables. There's plenty, you know.

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:01 pm
by Andreas the Wise
On the topic of the purpose of the Small Commonwealth, perhaps a plug like this might work:
The Small Commonwealth is not a YAMO. The Small Commonwealth is not Shireroth's attempt to control Micras (that's the Grand Commonwealth you're looking for). The Small Commonwealth is not a large pointless merger. We've had our share of those, and learnt from our mistakes. The Small Commonwealth is just a collection of friendly nations working together to share ideas about how best to suceed in our individual nations. Forget the bulllying nations, the schemers, those who would impose strict standards - the Small Commonwealth is not for those people. The Small Commonwealth is for the nice nations to help eachother develop to their full potential. Between us, we have a vast collective memory and melting pot of new ideas. We can tell eachother what's failed, what's worked, and what to try in the future. Don't be stuck in the lurch - join the Small Commonwealth, where nation's actually care about eachother ... and you. :love

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:06 pm
by Kaiser Loki III
Carve that on the wall of the meeting hall!

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:36 pm
by Andreas the Wise
You like it, then? :demon

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 3:02 pm
by Kaiser Loki III
I'm thrilled! :party :smashy

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 9:04 pm
by Erik Mortis
Moving.... :rolleyes

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:11 pm
by Kaiser Loki III
So I thrill easily, so? :p

Re: The Small Commonwealth

Posted: Tue Oct 21, 2008 6:46 am
by Jonas
Very good, Andreas. :)